Tension device



T. L. CAPES TENSION DEVICE Filed pt. 5, 1957 FIG 1 F I G. 4

INVENTOR T L CAPES W. U m

ll 5H IO 36 3o 42 44 2o ATTORNEY TENSION DEVICE Tasker Lee Capes, Moreland, Ga.

Application September 3, 1957, Serial No. 681,816

8 Claims. (Cl. 66-146) This invention relates to the manufacture of fabric of various kinds such as that in which yarn is interwoven to produce the desired product, and more particularly to the production of fabric without certain of the strands of yarn having a tension different from that of other strands so that the finished product will have a relatively smooth uniform texture.

The invention is concerned particularly with the manufacture of fabrics on circular knitting machines utilizing yarn in the production of articles of various kinds such as seamless hose and the like where it is desirable to have an article composed of a smooth uniformly textured fabric.

In the operation of circular knitting machines maintaining of the yarn under uniform tension has presented a problem due to various factors including the size of the cones, the amount of yarn thereon, the size of the article being manufactured, the freedom of operation of the parts, as well as other characteristics.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the difiiculties enumerated and to provide tensioning means of a character to maintain uniform tension on the yarn at all times during the use of the same regardless of the size of the cones, the amount of yarn contained and other factors which normally would change the tension.

Another object of the invention is to provide yarn tensioning mechanism of simple and inexpensive construction, which can be easily applied, will require minimum servicing, and will efficiently perform the function for which it was designed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knitting machine with a tensioning device capable of maintaining a uniform tension on the yarn, thereby eliminating loose knitting when the cones are filled with yarn which causes stockings manufactured on said machine to be too long, and similarly avoiding overly tight knitting when the cones are scantily wound with yarn which would result in stockings being too short.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tensioning device, which is simple and easy to mount on a knitting machine, in a manner not to interfere with the operation of the machine in any way, by means of which the proper amount of tension may be provided at all times and under all circumstances, and varied in accordance with other variable factors with the end result giving a material reduction in size variations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a yarn tensioning device which can be made of any desired material such as plastic, aluminum, or the like, and can be employed to provide tension on a conventional circular knitting machine by merely mounting the same on the upper yarn rack by means of a set screw, and which can be installed in a matter of seconds.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustrating application of the invention to the upper yarn rack of a circular knitting machine;

tates PatentO ice Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

Fig. 3 a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Briefly stated the invention comprises a device adapted to be mounted on the upper yarn rack of, for example, a circular knitting machine and such device comprises a support having spaced yarn guiding portions through which the yarn is adapted to pass from a relatively small cone or mass of yarn, and with the yarn between such guiding portions engaged by a series of fingers or levers which move to increase the length of travel of the yarn between the spaced openings in the frame, such levers being delicately mounted in a manner to require a minimum force to move the same either to add or relieve tension on the yarn in order to maintain a uniformity of the end product.

With continued reference to the drawing, the present invention comprises a generally rectangular frame having front 10, and rear ends 11 and left and right sides 12 and 13 respectively. The front and rear ends 10 and 11 are provided with eyes or guiding portions 14 and 15, respectively, through which yarn 16 from cone 17 is adapted to pass. The eyes 14 and 15, or at least the inner surfaces thereof, are provided with relatively smooth, hard and wear resistant linings which offer a minimum resistance and wear to the yarn in its passage through said eyes. The eye 14 at the front end of the frame is relatively short while the eye 15 at the rear end of the frame is substantially longer in order to eliminate or at least reduce any possibility of kinks or slack which might cause the yarn to knot or break.

The present invention provides the necessary tension on the yarn as it passes between the eyes 14 and 15 at the front and rear of the frame, such tension being variable in accordance with the needs. In order to provide such tension a series of fingers 18 are provided having eyes or yarn engaging portions 19 in which the yarn between the eyes and the ends of the frame likewise is caused to travel.

The fingers are disposed in spaced relation along the two sides of the frame so that the fingers attached to one side alternate with fingers of the other side. These fingers move across the line of travel of the yarn between the front and rear eyes 14 and 15, and above and below such line of travel to provide a path of travel having ridges and valleys with the amount of deviation from a straight line variable to exert uniform tension on the yarn.

The fingers 18 are of light weight material such as, for example, plastic or other material such as a transparent substance of which the frame is fabricated. The fingers are delicately mounted so that only slight effort or force is necessary to move them. In order to mount the fingers, the sides 12 and 13 are provided with spaced openings 20, 21, 22 and 23, the openings 20 and 21 being in the side 12 and the openings 22 and 23 being in the side 13.

The openings 20, 21, 22 and 23 are set corresponding to the spacing of the fingers and cause each side of the frame to have three spaced immovable portions, the side 12 having portions 24, 25 and26, and the side 13 having mounted portions 27, 28 and 29. The portions 24 and 26 and 27 and 29 being provided with threaded openings 30, 31, 32 and 33, respectively, for the reception of an adjustable pinion mounting screw 34 having a recess or socket 35 in its end on which is disposed a lock nut 36. In like manner the central mounting portions or bosses 25 and 28 are provided with openings 37 and 38 there through in alignment with the openings in the adjacent end mounting portions for the reception of small shaft sections 39 having sockets or recesses 40 in their ends, and held in fixed position by means of a set screw 41 in tzlge end of the two intermediate mounting portions 25 and At each side of the device there are a pair of pinion mounting screws 34 and an intermediate shaft section 39, all in axial alignment, and between each of the relatively short shaft sections 39 and the end of the pinion mounting screws there is confined an. externally threaded pinion 42, having tapered ends 43 located with one end in the recess 40. in the end of the shaft 39 and its opposite end in the recess 35 in the end of the adjustable pinion mounting screw 34. The fingers 18 supported in this manner are free to move with minimum resistance and by the application of minimum force.

Since the fingers 18 are mounted in the side of the frame and the thread passes centrally lengthwise through the frame, the under side of the frame and the upper edges of the fingers are modified accordingly, the frame being provided with recesses 44 at one: side and 45 at the other, suchrecesses being on the under side of the frame and the fingers having upper portions cut away to provide reduced or narrower portions 46 to permit the fingers-mounted on the left side12 of the frame to be disposed in horizontal position while those on the opposite side 13 have their inner ends, if desired, disposed in a sl ghtly higher position. Also thefingers are provided with slideable weights 47 which can be adjusted longitudinally of the fingers to vary the operation of the arm and the tension on the yarn.

The frame is mounted in operative position by means of an externally threaded stud 48, which engages internally threaded opening 49, a lock nut 50 being employed forfastening the parts in fixed relation. The stud 48 is adapted to be applied to one of the arms of the upper yarn rack 51 of the knitting machine and to be held in position by a set screw 52. It will be Obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without de parting from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device adapted to be mounted on the upper yarn rack of a circular knitting machine for maintaining uniform tension on yarn fed from a cone to said knitting machine, comprising a substantially rectangular frame having an eye in each end with the eye in the rear end elongated and of a length substantially greater than the eye 1n the front end, a series of fingers having eyes interposed between the eyes of said frame, said fingers being pivoted on ewel-like pivots in spaced relation between the eyes of the frame so that the eyes in said fingers may be disposed n varying positions with regard to a straight line connecting the eyes in said frame whereby when yarn extended through said several eyes, its path of movement may be changed to increase its length of travel said fingers being mounted in a manner to move freely and bemg of light weight and consequently sensitive to the least variation in tension of the yarn, the eyes of said frame and said fingers being provided with a relatively smooth hard lining offering minimum resistance and wear to the passage of yarn therethrough, and the elongated eye serving to reduce the possibility of kinks or slacks which might cause the yarn to knot and break said fingers being mounted in pairs on each side of said frame with one finger of each pair extending between the fingers of the other pair and with two of the fingers normally below a straight line between the eyes and the frame and with two of the fingers normally above a straight. line between the two eyes of the frame, and weights adjustable along said fingers for varying the tension of the fingers on the yarn.

2. A device adapted to be mounted on the upper yarn rack of a circular knitting machine for maintaining uniform tension on yarn fed from a cone to said knitting machine, comprising a substantially rectangular frame having an eye in each end with the eye in the rear end elongated and of a length substantially greater than the eye in the front end, a series of fingers having eyes interposed between the eyes of said frame, said fingers being pivoted on jewel-like pivots in spaced relation between the eyes of the frame so that the eyes in said fingers may be disposed in varying positions with regard to a straight line connecting the eyes in said frame whereby, when yarn is extended through said several eyes, its path of movement may be changed to increase its length of travel, said fingers being mounted in a manner to move freely and being of light weight and consequently sensitive to the least variation in tension of the yarn, the eyes of said frame and said fingers being provided with a relatively smooth hard lining offering minimum resistance and wear to the passage of yarn therethrough, and the elongated eye serving to reduce the possibility of kinks or slacks which might cause the yarn to knot and break, and weights adjustable along said fingers for varying the tension of the fingers on the yarn.

3. A device adapted to be mounted on the upper yarn rack of a circular knitting machine for maintaining uniform tension on yarn fed from a'cone to said knitting machine, comprising a substantially rectangular frame having an eye in each end with the eye in the rear end elongated and of alength substantially greater than the eye in the front end, a series of fingers having eyes interposed between the eyes of said frame, said fingers being pivoted on jewel-like pivots in spaced relation between the eyes of'the frame so that the eyes in said fingers may be disposed in varying positions with regard to a straight line connecting the eyes in said frame whereby, when yarn is extended through said several eyes, its path of movement may be changed to increase its length of travel, said fingers being mounted in a manner to move freely and being of light weight and consequently sensitive to the least variation in tension of the yarn, and the elongated eye serving to reduce the possibility of kinks or slacks which might cause the yarn to knot and break.

4. A device adapted to be mounted on the yarn rack of a circular knitting machine for maintaining uniform tension on yarn fed to such machine, comprising an elongated frame having spaced yarn engaging portions, a series of pivoted levers having yarn engaging portions interposed between the yarn engaging portions of said frame, said levers being of relatively light weight and mounted in a manner to move freely, whereby they are sensitive to the variations in tension of the yarn, said levers being balanced in a manner to take up looseness and to yield to reduced tension on the yarn, said weights being adjustable for varying the operation of the same and the tension on the yarn.

5. Tensioning mechanism for yarn comprising a support having spaced guide portions adapted to having spaced contact with the yarn to be tensioned, a series of spaced yarn engaging members pivotally interposed between the spaced guide portions of said support, said yarn engaging members being constructed and mounted in a manner to permit movement by relatively small force and subject to slight variation in yarn tension and being balanced so that they cooperatively compensate for both loo-seness and tightness of the yarn to maintain the proper tension thereon.

6. Tensioning mechanism for maintaining uniform tension on yarn fed to a knitting machine, comprising spaced yarn engaging members, a series of yarn engaging levers interposed between said spaced yarn engaging members, supporting means for said spaced yarn engaging members and said yarn engaging levers, said yarn engaging levers being so proportioned and mounted that they can be moved by relatively small force and being so adjusted that they respond to tension on the yarn to maintain a uniform tension thereon.

7. A tensioning device designed for maintaining uniform tension on yarn comprising spaced yarn engaging members, additional yarn engaging members pivotally interposed between said spaced yarn engaging members, supporting means for said yarn engaging members with certain of the latter mounted for substantially free movement subject to the tension of the yarn and balanced to compensate for variations in the tension of the yarn.

8. In a yarn tensioning device, spaced fixed yarn engaging members, additional yarn engaging members pivotally and cooperatively associated with said first yarn engaging members and arranged with regard thereto in a manner to increase or decrease the path of travel of 15 6 the yarn, said interposed yarn engaging members being delicately balanced so that they automatically respond to increase and decrease in the tension of the yarn and compensate therefor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 552,806 Williams et al. Jan. 7, 1896 1,241,328 Bennett Sept. 25, 1917 2,031,430 Schletter Feb. 18, 1936 2,281,427 Freer Apr. 28, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 190,479 Germany Oct. 21, 1907 

